Game-cue.



No. 70l,264. Patented May 27,1902.

A. J. GRAY.

GAME CUE.

(Application filed may 16, 1901.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

ALMON .I. GRAY, OF PEPIN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO NORMAN A. GRAY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

GAM E-CU E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,264, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed May 16, 1901.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALMON J. GRAY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Pepin, county of Pepin, State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and Improved Game- Gue, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a cue for use in playing various games.

The object of the invention is to provide means for administering a sharp quick blow upon the ball or counter employed in-playing a game.

A further object is to provide means for raising the end of the one away from the board, so that the striking-pin will come in contact with the counter at or near its perpendicular center.

A further object is to provide an improvement in the construction of the game-cue shown and described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, No.-

15,889, filed May 8, 1900..

The invention consists generally in a barrel, a striking-pin, a hammer therein, and means yieldingly connecting said pin and hammer.

Further, the invention consists in providing means for holding the striking-pin stationary in the end of the barrel until struck by the actuating-hammer.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a game-cue embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of the striking pin and ham mer, showing means for connecting the same. Fig. 4. is a modification of said connecting means. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the end of the barrel and'the striking-pin, showing one method employed for holding the pin stationary. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the means for connecting the spring to the hammer and pin.

In the drawings, 2 representsabarrel, preferably tapered and wherein the operating mechanism for the one is arranged.

3 is a ferrule inserted into the end of the Serial. No. 60,482, (No model.)

barrel and wherein the shank of the strikingpin 4: slides. The ferrule is slightly tapered on the inside, and a thimble or collar 5 is provided on the end of the pin secured by any suitable means, such as a pin 6, and said collar may be tapered to readily enter the ferrule and be wedged therein. A tip '7 is provided on the end of the striking-pin to engage the ball or counter. In the opposite end of thebarrel is a hammer 8, whose shank is slidable in a ferrule 9, screwed or otherwise secured in the end of the barrel, and whose outer end is preferably tapered, terminating in a finger-grip 10. The inner end of the hammer is connected with the inner end of the striking-pin by a spring 11 or other suitable yielding means, which when attached to the hammer and pin is put under tension and yieldingly holds the ends of said hammer and pin in contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring 11 may be secured in any suitable way to the hammer and pin, as by the short pins 12 or by attaching the ends of the spring to short sleeves or collars that are interiorly threaded and screwed over the ends of the hammer and pin. The tension of the spring 11 will normally hold the actuating parts in the position indicated in Fig. 2, and when the hammer is withdrawn and released it will drive the striking-pin forward and impart a sharp quick blow to the ball or counter. The recoil of the striking-pin will cause it to wedge itself within the end of the barrel and remain stationary until again actuated by the hammer. I prefer to provide means for raising the end of the barrel up away from the gameboard, so as to bring the striking-pin in position to strike the counter near its center. I- may accomplish this in various ways but I prefer to provide an annular groove 13 near the end of the barrel and provide therein a ring or washerl l, of yielding material, preferably rubber. In using the game-cue this ring will rest upon the table, elevating the end of the barrel and preventing it from slipping. At the same time it permits the player to rotate the barrel slightly in either direction to change the position of the strikingpin with respect to the counter.

In Fig. 4 l have shown a modified construction of the means for connecting the hammer and striking-pin, which consists in providing a tube 15 on the hammer and arranging therein a spring 16, connected to a small pin 18 in the end of the striking-pin. A short sleeve 19 on the striking-pin engages the end of the tube 15 and with said tube incloses and conceals the spring 16. The pin is actuated by withdrawing and releasing the hammer, when the spring will throw the tube 15 into contact with the sleeve 19 and project the striking-pin. In this figure I have also shown a modification of the end of the striking-pin, which consists in providing a tapered collar 20 therein that is adapted to wedge itself within a ferrule in the end of the barrel. It is immaterial whether the collar on the end of the striking-pin or the ferrule engaged thereby be tapered, as in either case the striking-pin will wedge itself upon its recoil.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Agame-cue, comprising a barrel, a striking-pin and a hammer therein, means yieldingly connecting the abutting ends of said pin and hammer, and means provided near the end of said barrel for cooperating with said pin to hold it stationary while the hammer is being retracted, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. A game-cue, comprising a barrel, a striking-pin and an actuating-hammer therein, means provided within said barrel between the abutting ends of said pin and hammer for yieldingly holding them-together but permitting the hammer to be retracted to drive forward the pin when released, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a barrel having a tapered surface, of a striking-pin having a correspondingly-shaped surface to engage the tapered surface of said barrel, ahammer, and means for actuating the same to project said pin, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with a barrel,ofa striking-pin adapted to be wedged in the end thereof, and a spring-actuated hammer, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a barrel having a tapered ferrule in its end, of a striking-pin having a sleeve or collar to engage said ferrule, and a spring-actuated hammer for projecting said pin.

6. The combination,with a barre1,of a striking-pin adapted to be normally wedged in the end thereof, and means for actuating said pin.

7. The combination, with a barrel having a tapered ferrule in its end, of a striking-pin provided with a surface having a corresponding taper to engage said ferrule, a hammer, and means for actuating said hammer to project said pin, substantially as described.

8. The combination,with a barre1,ofa striking-pin, an actuating-hammer, a spring interposed between said pin and hammer and having its ends attached thereto respectively, whereby when the hammer is withdrawn the pin will be retracted also and driven forward by the impact of the hammer when released.

9. The combination, with a barrel having a tapered ferrule in its end, of a striking-pin having a sleeve provided with a corresponding taper to engage said ferrule, and a springactuated hammer for projecting said pin.

10. In a game-cue, the combination, with a barrel 2 of a striking-pin provided in one end of said barrel, a hammer in the opposite end, a coil-spring provided between the abutting ends of said pin and hammer and yieldingly connecting the same, said spring being normally under tension to hold said pin stationary iu the end of the barrel and beingput under greater tension when said hammer is retracted to project said pin when the hammer is released, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May, 1901.

ALMON J. GRAY.

In presence of RICHARD PAUL, M. O. NOONAN. 

